Mumbai: Instead of distributing condoms in
the jails, prisoners should be given education on HIV risk and
"good lessons of life" to prevent spread of the disease in
jails, Bombay High Court said today.
However, the court, which was hearing a petition on
medical treatment facilities within jails, left the course of
action in this regard to the government.
The petition was originally for temporary bail, filed by
an HIV-positive murder convict. He died in jail, during the
pendency of the petition.
Anand Grover, appointed as amicus curie to assist the
court on the larger issue of medical facilities for prisoners,
today said that prisoners are at the risk of contracting HIV
because of sexual encounters within the prison.
He suggested that condoms may be distributed in jails.
However, division bench of Justices P B Majmudar and R G
Ketkar said, "this disease is because of bad habits... educate
them. Some disciplined life is required by every human being."
"Instead of giving them condoms, give them religious
lectures.. request some Mahants, saint, etc to give them good
lessons of life."
The court also said that government should advertise
about risk of contracting HIV within prisons.
-PTI
First Published: Monday, March 08, 2010, 23:18